String suspended aerial toy



1968 H. c. COLMER, JR 3,413,753 I STRING SUSPENDED AERIAL TOY Filed Nov. 27, 1964 INVENT OR ATTORNEYS nited States Patent 3,413,753 STRING SUSPENDED AERIAL TOY Henry G. Colmer, In, 4203 Belvedere St., Mobile, Ala. 36609 Filed Nov. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 414,351 6 Claims. (Cl. 46-61) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A spinning device including a first circular body section having an axially disposed threaded member, a second circular body section having an axially disposed threaded opening threadedly mounted on the threaded member, a spacer member mounted on the threaded member between the circular body sections, a strand of string for spinning the body sections about their common axis and said strand of String having one end thereof secured axially on an exterior portion of the device and having a length sufficient to permit the strand to extend to the space between the body sections and be wound on the spacer member.

This invention relates to a spinning device and more particularly to a device which is adapted to be used as a gyroscopic top, a conventional top, or a return top commonly referred to as a Yo-Yo.

In the prior art there are many different types of spinning devices, primarily employed as toys, including gyroscopic tops, conventional tops and return tops or Yo-Yos. Such conventional devices, however, usually are limited in their construction for use only as one or two of such types of spinning devices. In addition, such devices often have comparatively complicated constructions and require comparatively involved assembly operations, which result in increased manufacturing costs.

Accordingly, it is the general object of this invention to provide an improved spinning device.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved spinning device which is adapted for use as a gyroscopic top, a conventional top or a return top.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved spinning device which normally is adapted for use either as a gyroscopic top or a conventional top having a unique construction so that it may be modified slightly for use as a return top or a Yo-Yo.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved spinning device adapted for use as a gyroscopic top, a conventional top or a return top, requiring a simple operation in the use of the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved spinning device adapted for use as a gyroscopic top, a conventional top or a return top, having a comparatively simple construction and requiring a relatively simple assembly operation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to persons skilled in the art, in the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 1, having a portion thereof broken away, which illustrates the use of the invention as a return top;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view illustrating the invention when used as a conventional top.

Generally, this invention provides a device comprising a first circular body section having an axially disposed threaded member, a second circular body section having having an axially disposed threaded opening mounted on the threaded member, a spacer member mounted on the threaded member between the circular body sections and axially disposd means on one of the circular body sections for attaching a cord thereto which is adapted to pass over the periphery of the section and be wound on the spacer member so that the device either may be permitted to gravity fall or be thrown, whereby a spinning motion is imparted to the device.

Referring to FIGURE 1, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As best shown in FIGURE 2, there is provided an elongated threaded member 10, having a spherical-like end portion 11, providing an annular recess 12 adjacent the exterior end of the elongated threaded member. Mounted on the opposite end of the elongated threaded member is a circular body section 13 having an inwardly facing planar surface 14 disposed normal to the axis of the elongated threaded member, an outwardly facing crowned surface 15 and an axially disposed threaded opening 16 which is adapted to receive an end portion of the elongated threaded member a part of the way therethrough. Also mounted on the elongated threaded member is a circular body section 17, having an inwardly facing planar surface 18 disposed substantially parallel to the planar surface 14, an outwardly facing crowned surface 19 and an axially disposed threaded opening 20 through which the elongated threaded member extends, projecting outwardly therefrom. The circular body sections are disposed in axially spaced relationship by means of a collar spacer 21 which is mounted on the elongated threaded member between the two sections.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 2, there is provided an attachment member 22 having a head portion 23 and a threaded portion 24 which is threaded into the axially threaded opening 16 so that it engages the end of the elongated threaded member. The attachment member is provided with an axially disposed opening 25 having an enlarged "bore 26 toward the inner portion thereof. The device is adapted to be operated by means of a string or cord 27, which is secured to the device by having one of its ends extending through the axially disposed opening 25 in the attachment member through a pair of beadlike members 28 and 29 defining bearing elements disposed in the enlarged bore 26 and having the end thereof knotted as at 30. It will be appreciated that the spherical bearing elements 28 and 29 will permit the device to spin relative to the string, without causing the string to twist.

When the device is used as a gyroscopic top, the string 27 is wound on the collar spacer 21, as shown in FIGURE 1, and permitted to gravity fall, or is thrown downwardly, whereby the unwinding of the string imparts a spinning motion to the device. After the string has fully unwound, the device will continue to spin with its axis disposed horizontally as a result of gyroscopic action. The device will continue to spin having its axis in a horizontal orientation until the forces of gravity overcome the gyroscopic forces whereby the device will drop. However, during the time when the device is spinning as a gyro, various forces can be applied to the exterior end of the elongated threaded member 10 applied in different directions to cause the device to precess and assume various orientations. It also would be possible to suspend the device while it is spinning with its axis disposed horizontally from an intermediate point of the string 27, loop the remaining loose portion of the string about the annular recess 12 of the exterior end of the threaded member as illustrated by the broken lines in FIGURE 1 and impart various forces to the end of the threaded member, causing the device to precess. It also would be possible to apply a force to the exterior end of the elongated threaded member while supporting the device from the opposite end thereof with the string, causing the device to precess so that the axis becomes vertically orientated, whereby the device can be lowered into a horizontal surface and permitted to continue to spin as a conventional top, as illustrated in FIGURE 5.

When it is desired to use the device as a return top or Yo-Yo, the circular body section 17 is threaded away of the collar spacer 21 and the string is passed over the section 13 and placed between the inwardly facing planar surface 14 of the circular body section 13 and the spacer member. The circular body section 17 then is threaded toward the collar, so that the portion of the string disposed between the circular body section 13 and the collar spacer 21 is clamped therebetween as illustrated in FIG- URES 3 and 4. The tree portion of the string adjacent the clamped portion thereof is then wound on the collar spacer in the conventional manner and the device then can be used as a return top.

The various components of the device can be constructed of any suitable materials, including wood, plastics and metallic materials. The circular body sections 13 and 17 also can be of any desired configuration. However, it is preferred that most of the mass of the device be distributed along the periphery of the circular sections to provide a greater rotational inertia. It further will be appreciated that the components of the device may be constructed by any suitable means.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those skilled in the art. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A spinning device comprising a first circular body section having an axially disposed threaded member, a second circular body section having an axially disposed threaded opening threadedly mounted on said-threaded member, a spacer member mounted on said threaded member between said circular body sections, a string for spinning said body sections about their common axis and said string having one end thereof secured axially on an exterior portion of said device and having a length sufiicient to permit the string to extend to the space between said body sections and be wound on said spacer member.

2. A spinning device according to claim 1, wherein said string is secured to said device with a swivel connection.

3. A spinning device comprising a first circular body section having an axially disposed threaded member, a second circular body section having an axial threaded opening threadedly mounted on said threaded member, said threaded member having a sufiicient length to extend through said second circular section and project outwardly therefrom, a spacer member mounted on said threaded member between said circular body sections a string for spinning said body sections about their common axis and said string having one end thereof secured axially on an exterior portion of said first body section and having a length sufficient to permit the string to extend over said first body section and be wound on said spacer member.

4. A spinning device comprising a first circular body section having an axially disposed threaded member, a second circular body section having an axial threaded opening therethrough threadedly mounted on said threaded member, a spacer member mounted on said threaded member between said circular body sections. said threaded member having a length sufficient to extend through said second circular section and project outwardly therefrom, said threaded member having an annular recess adjacent the exerior end thereof, a string for spinning said body sections about their common axis and said string having one end thereof secured axially on an exterior portion of said first circular body section and having a length sufficient to permit the string to extend over said first circular body section and be Wound on said space member.

5. A spinning device comprising an elongated threaded member, a first circular body section having an axial threaded opening therethrough mounted on an end of said elongated threaded member, a second circular body section having an axial threaded opening therethrough threadedly mounted on said elongated threaded member, a spacer member mounted on said elongated threaded member between said circular body sections, said elongated threaded member having a length sufficient to extend through said second circular body section and project outwardly therefrom, said elongated threaded member having an annular recess adjacent the exterior end thereof, a second threaded member threadedly received in the axial threaded opening of said first circular section, said second threaded member having an axial opening having a diameter less than the diameter of said threaded opening in said first circular body section and a string extending through said axial opening in said second threaded member having means on the interior end thereof for preventing the removal of said string through said opening in said second threaded member.

6. A spinning device comprising an elongated threaded member, a first circular body section having an axial threaded opening therethrough mounted on an end of said elongated threaded member, a second circular body section having an axial threaded opening therethrough threadedly mounted on said elongated threaded member, a spacer collar mounted on said elongated threaded member between said circular body sections, said elongated threaded member having a length sufiicient to extend through said second circular body section and project outwardly therefrom, said elongated threaded member having an annular recess adjacent the exterior end thereof, an attachment having a threaded portion threaded into the opening in said first circular body section, said attachment having an axial opening with an enlarged bore, a string extending through said opening in said attachment having a knotted end disposed on said enlarged bore and said string having at least one spherical bearing element mounted on said string in said enlarged bore.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,806,485 5/1931 Mirafuentes 46-61 2,639,546 5/1-953 Shockey 46-6l X 2,645,881 7/1953 Frangos 46-6l X 1,866,697 7/1932 Blackburn 466l LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner. 

